The BLE report provides impressive confirmation of the potential of biofuels for reducing greenhouse gases

(PresseBox) (Berlin, 11.10.2016)
The Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Plants e.V. (UFOP) emphasizes that the Evaluation and Progress Report 2015, which was currently published by the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food [Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung: BLE], having calculated an average greenhouse gas reduction of 70 percent, underlines the competition between biofuels to achieve the most efficient and cost-effective greenhouse gas reduction, which has, until now, only been observed in Germany.

Clearly, additional efficiency reserves were able to be increased compared with the previous year. This was the last year before the obligation to reduce greenhouse gases was introduced on 1st January 2015. For 2014, an average greenhouse gas reduction of 51 percent was identified. This very positive result is, however, also attributable to the fact that the BLE complies with its reporting obligations in an exemplary fashion, as has been recognised by the European Commission. With “Nabisy”, the affected economic operators have a system at their disposal, which now functions well, for the certification systems approved by the European Commission.

The UFOP deeply regrets that the potential of the greenhouse gas reduction obligation is not recognised by policy-makers and introduced throughout Europe in the interests of providing a positive example. In fact, the opposite is the case: according to a report by the European Commission from July 2016 for “a European strategy for low-emission mobility”, biofuels introduced onto the market are to be phased out rather than appropriately promoted. Alternative sales opportunities for the saturated raw materials markets are not highlighted. With a view to the period after 2020, UFOP is simply calling for the continuation of biofuel policy by means of an “iLUC-free base quantity” for biofuels made from biomass so that the legitimate expectations for existing investments can be protected and the quality of the sustainability certification can be further developed. The European Court of Auditors recently demanded the latter from the European Commission.

From UFOP’s perspective, the conventional biofuels must also be taken into consideration after 2020, above all due to their proven greenhouse gas efficiency, so that we can start reducing greenhouse gas emissions across a broad spectrum of the transport sector now. The diversification of options to reduce greenhouse gases will be particularly important in climate protection should policy-makers’ expectations for other technologies not be fulfilled, as some studies have forecast. This is because it is ultimately consumer acceptance and economic feasibility that determine market access. The organisation believes an evolved strategy must therefore form the basis for a climate protection strategy that incorporates all key players, above all in the transport sector.

UFOP - Union zur Förderung von Oel- und Proteinpflanzen e.V.

The Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Plants e. V. (UFOP) represents the political interests of companies, associations and institutions involved in the production, processing and marketing of domestic oil and protein plants in national and international bodies. UFOP supports research to optimise agricultural production and to develop new recycling opportunities in the food, non-food and feed sectors. UFOP public relations aim to promote the marketing of the end products of domestic oil and protein plants.

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